The Darkness' Justin Hawkins: 'I connect with a gay audience' Get Tickets

The Darkness' Justin Hawkins has claimed that he "connects with a gay audience".

Speaking to the Guardian, the flamboyant frontman insisted that although his sexuality is his private business, he and his bandmates had found popularity with a gay audience because they're not "men's men".

"My sexual persuasion is no one's business but my own - but I'm easily persuaded," he said. "Just kidding."

''It's funny because it came up recently in a German interview. They reckoned that when you Google Justin Hawkins, one of the first things that comes up is 'Is Justin Hawkins gay?'"

He then added:

And I'd like to think that's because there's something I do that connects with a gay audience.

Speaking about he and his bandmates' style, meanwhile, he said: " Yeah. I think we're all a bit effeminate. We're not men's men, much as we may appear to be so."

The Darkness released 'Hot Cakes', their first album since 2005's 'One Way Ticket To Hell And Back', on August 20. The band are set to support Lady Gaga on her European stadium tour this Autumn, including a pair of dates at London's Twickenham on September 8 and 9.